New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-24
OLD KITE.
Erom pion,er Ttme. On California.

From Pioneer Times IN California
7, 1870 s,vs the author OF " Pioneer Times IN
California Bill Lddle had pdck-traln OF elgut ARG
mules at work tor n trader IN one OF the northern
mines Ono day he loaded his traln heaVhy anu
started Tor mining camp lar III tho lutc , w
mi. trip he WAS obliged TO pass hl0ug dangerous
trail some Two miles in length. IL was cut INTO Tue
side OF a rugged elm that oyerhung the river III was
iust wide enough tor loaded mule or morse 10 Mnih
on safely, with the cu on one siuo ""u Z" i'"
prccipice on the other. .u,.h ,d
Bill started his train In on TINS pass WIN oiu
Kate" a heavy, square-bult pay NUE. US ~ ia, o
the lead Old Kate an animal OF rare ihtengence
Ue IA adj not advanced far on the marrow iran "heh
Kate gave u loud bray, and in moment oil tnc
mules we're standing still Just ahead was an un-
loaded train OF fifteen California mules appio"ou"S
from the other direction on q log-trot' =, .o,a
II was impossible Tor Bill to turn his mules around
with their loads on and there was no room 10 unoai
nor was there room Tor the mules VI lno '"o "" w
pass without almost sure DESTRUCTION :. .;.
Bill raised bimself i'll the baudle' anu III a -,
tone called on the other conductor TO STOP MS ua
This he did, but told Bill tnal ne wou =, rho end nj
on the trail because II was two miles 10 'ho Gnu a.,
the cIia and Bill would lose only few hundred yAtds
hv ooine back Bill explained the impossiDinty Oh
turning his large American muleS' vi VI u''o''"e
them on such "a narrow trail. -, .. o.,
All this while old Kate stood right Tin the centre Oh
the trail her forelegs well apart as II 10 oiaoo
her lower than usual ana her 'onsi IL =, The
thrown forward as il aimed at the heaa nie VI .no
other train. rhte her eyes seemed fixed on inc
animals motions. ii, c.t;,o.n,o ,nrlss
Y,
oaee TO get out and II lose mule yoll nave TO pay
Tor it, Then cracking his whip he called 10 hS !'"u
mule: " Get up, Sal !" -, - ,,,o.
Ills mules seemed to know that there was danger
Sal the leader Rugged close to the rocss, anu n'o
an excited rush forward to get inside oil Nate i;
ola Kate had not moved muscle, ana $1,000 u ST. ~
tbr centre Of the trail AS at first bi ies .s
,nonent that she did not see the danger oi oli
GET the inside and again raising himself III Tue ~
he called at the top OF his voice. Kate, 70 ior 'ne
pitch EN- all overheard !" =, "a. no an
Beiore Bills order was out old hate gave tn
upearthly bray "a II In answer; at the same tm9 sue
dropped on her knees, with her head stretohea 0ut
,se along the rocks her neck and lower Jaw ruOons
the trail and received Sal across hSt IN the air and
.han dronned heavily into tho river below Nate
srsnine her knceling position waited Tor the next
mule which she sent after sal ..,.o. &, ,oor
The California mules huddled close together IN rear
OF tho knecug monster before them Ou1 inU ,Se5
maddeued by his loss, hnooeo anu wnippSu rions
Oh he was hoping that by sudden ana furious gu.
rush they could be made to leap and dash over ha.
and thcn he coald dslodse tue rest Oh Tue M ats
t svon for his loss. But he did not know old hh,o
In minute one, two and three more Oh inc mules